Winds bring red-flag fire warning for O.C.

High winds began to blow in the Santa Ana Mountains early Friday, and there's plenty more to come: Much of Orange County could see winds in the 25-35 mph range with mountain gusts over 60, said the National Weather Service, which placed the county under a red-flag wildfire warning for Saturday.

A system of high-pressure air over California and another over the Great Basin should keep highs in the 80s and push winds toward the coast Friday and Saturday.

The red-flag warning, from 2 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, means critical fire conditions -- high winds and low humidity -- are expected. Los Angeles, Ventura and San Diego counties were also placed under a red-flag warning.

And a 60-mph gust was recorded shortly before 8 a.m. Friday in Fremont Canyon, often Orange County's windiest spot.

Friday should be mostly sunny with highs of 76 to 81, 71 to 76 near the coast. The strong winds should continue into the night and into Saturday afternoon, with peaks Friday and Saturday mornings.

Saturday looks sunny, and warm again: 79 to 84 inland, 72 to 77 on the beach. The northeast winds should ease back into the 15 to 25 mph range in the afternoon, but with gusts to 30 still possible.

Winds are still possible Saturday night, but retreat into the 15 mph-range Sunday morning before turning light.

Sunday is mostly sunny and 75 to 80 inland, 67 to 72 on the coast.

Monday and Tuesday are partly cloudy as low pressure moves in along the coast, with inland highs of 63 to 68 Monday, 65 to 70 Tuesday. On the coast it's 61 Monday, 60 to 65 Tuesday.

Wednesday and Thursday are mostly sunny and warmer as high-pressure builds back up.

That means inland highs of 72 to 77 Wednesday and 78 to 83 Thursday. On the coast expect 65 to 70 Wednesday, 70 to 75 Thursday.

Unofficial peak wind speeds around O.C. by midday Friday:

Bell Canyon 18 mph

Foothill Ranch 24

Fremont Canyon 60

Huntington Beach 11

Irvine 25

Newport Beach 15

Orange 23

John Wayne Airport 26

Yorba Linda 16

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